IAN-UK

I suppose the difference is that leisure-travel daughter may well slip bank to silver when the crisis and double TPs have receded, and reduced thresholds disappeared.

But if work-travel dad has lost status, he will quickly regain it when business picks up and restriction recede. And it's likely that part, or all, of that initial, status-free travel will be in a premium cabin with the passenger entitled to most of the comforts status would bring.

The obsession with holding status at a time when the holder isn't travelling is a puzzle. But if the emotional comfort gained from possessing a shiny card is great, then surely the remedy for those grounded by employers and clients, is to put hands in their own pockets and join the double-point BAH crowd and earn some TPs.

IAN-UK

Disappointment at the good fortune of others, otherwise envy: a rather darker version of Schadenfreude.

It's probably less stressful to rejoice that you had the foresight and wherewithal to assure your position.

Grace B

Well, not at all, but it's just the whiff of the concept of fairness that's possibly in the ether.

But life isn't fair as we all know, so let's just move on.

IAN-UK

Something like feeling miffed when you're aware someone has been upgraded to a cabin you paid to be in. Envy, unhappiness, or we might settle on disquiet, at the good fortune of others.


The slightly warped notion of equity is what leads to unedifying demands for special treatment, such as those we saw earlier. That was where groups who maintained their status under normal terms of a FFP demanded additional benefits in compensation for others being given a helping hand towards their own nirvana.

Carriers with calendar year memberships aren't immune from generating such ill will, but i reckon they have an easier time of it. Over at Lufthansa they gave one-year extensions to all, then double TP equivalents to end-June, and told us to get on with it: but there's still been chunnering

Same but moreso with Hilton. But I guess you're right: it's human nature.

xenole

I've had a couple of extensions from Hilton and before that, via GGL. Barely stay at their hotels, so whilst Diamond may cost nothing much to them, they're not getting me spending ££££ with them.
Up to 3 stays this year after Tuesday, so nowhere near requalifying They could look at my stay patterns and see i wouldnt even get the base level on an average year, so why bother with me? It's not encouraged me to stay more with them. Prefer another brand to be honest.

alex67500

You don't even get the bloody things anymore! 😂

aks120

Oh wait you are serious …… I think! So I am envious just because I think people should be rewarded for what they pay for, not what they THINK they are entitled to?

aks120

TTmex

Reward for paying for things? For me there is no reward if it's merely a transction, you're just getting what you paid for. For me this is where all the wording and emotional attachment becomes blurred. That is what has happened to the AA system. Now the only people who get rewarded are those with enormous CC spends on AA and partners. So you can have someone who flies 6-10 times a year on AA who will get "rewarded" with upgrades etc and someone who flies 30-40 times a year because they don't have the CC spending power outside of flying. At the end of the day it's all a transaction and BA are only going to take decisions that benefit the bottom line. They've got some clever minds in rev management and I'm sure they've run numerous simulations of extending and not extending and will be faily confident of getting the financial decision right. Only time will tell, of course...

xenole

.....and you can have someone doing 1 or 2 ex-SOF TP runs or similar and getting Gold for perhaps the average price of a CW return to JFK.

TTmex

Wonder how long until this becomes a thing of the past. I fear that give it a few years the next phase of aviation with be to revenue spend systems everywhere. Doesn't mean it will last forever has these things are already dynamic, but I believe there will be more of a shift towards European based airlines taking on Rev-based systems like the US where those who don't spent enough will simply be left at the bottom of the pecking order. I hope it doesn't happen too soon, but it wouldn't suprise me if it did.

IAN-UK

OK, the comfort of the virtual representation of a shiny card on their iphone

gcuk

Perhaps they could lend those clever minds to the IT department. They must be losing a fortune every time the IT fails.

air_boi

My tier point collection year ends 8 July 2022 and card expires 31 Aug 2022. I have just reached 450 tier points and have 5 qualifying flights. As I have requalified under the reduced thresholds, when will this show in the app or online? Currently the app is showing what I need to get to gold and still has 31 Aug 2022 expiry.

TTmex

Agreed indeed. It would be a wise move

orbitmic

it takes a few days but you’ll be fine. Well done on requalifyîng.